Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-04
THE NORTHWEST
fHE CENTENNIAL HISTORY Or OHIO.
BY W. FARRAND FEboH.
Copyrighted. All rights reserred. ]
ENCLOSURES DEFENSIVE AND SACRED.

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ENCLOSURES DEFENSIVE AND SACRED.
Most of these are earth. Defensive enclos-
ures are of irregular form, are always on high
ground and is naturally strong positions, on
the submits of hills on steep bluffs, and often
strengthened by bitches or moats on the ex-
terror. The walls generally wind around the
boarders of the land, rendering some points
more accessible than others: the height of the
wall and the depth of the ditch are at such
points proportionately increased. The gate
ways are narrow, few and far between, and
guarded by embankments placed few yards
inside of the opening or gate-ways, parallel
with them, fully covering the entrances.
These works are numerous and indicate an
idea of fortifcation and defense. A large
number consist of line of ditch embank-
ments, or several lines carried across the
neck of peninsula or bluff headland formed
within the bend of rivers--an easy and obvi-
Gus method of defense common to all rude
people. To this class of enclosures belongs
that situated on the summit of hill one
mile east of the Alligator mound in Licking
county.
Covered ways are parallel walls of earth,
limited in height, close to enclosures, or con-
Meeting them, to protect those who passed
between the two enclosures. Sacred enclos-
ures are mainly distinguished by more regu-
larity OF form than the military enclosures,
anu are VI IL OSOulIOhSOs bhCy
are of all shapes and sizes, and where bitches
are formed, they are on the inside of the
walls: they are generally in the form of
peometrical figures-circles, squares, hexa-
gons, and various other forms; they are
sometimes found within the military enclos
ures. Frequently they contain mound or
altar in the center. The very extensive works
near Newark, known as the "0ld Fort" were
probably of this class. Some writers claim
that national games and amusements were
performed within these enclosures; but if so,
such games were part of their religion, or
sanctioned by it. Other ancient people had
nation festivals, jubilees, games, and amuse-
ments, and why not the Mound Builders?
Without doubt they had and congregated
within their enclosures to practice celebrate,
and enjoy ahem, so concluded Mr.. A. A.
Graham, to whose "History of Licking coun-
ty'' we are largely indebted for this interest
ing summary of their works and mounds.
SOME PERTINENT DEDUCTIONS.
Authorities differ regarding the Mound
Builders, but few facts seem to be fully es-
tablished from their works. There can be
no doubt that they were numerous people;
works so gigantic and elaborate could not
have been erected by puny people. 1t could
scarcely have been otherwise than that they
were also we'll governed, also they would not
have erected such enduring monuments.
They may have been the subjects of single
strong government, or if not government at
least of dominant class, because under any
other, the performance of such an immense
amount of probably enforced labor could not
have been secured. Very likely, then, some
sort of vassalage or servitude;. or if they
were governed by religious Impulses to erect
the mounds, then their religion must have
had strong hold upon them, and their
priestly class must have been all powerful.
There is abundant evidence that they were
war-like people as is shown by their fortif-
cations for defense; and they may have made
slaves of their prisoners. The number and
magnitude of their works and their extensive
rage, and uniformity of design and appear
ance, prove conclusiyely that they were
homogeneous in customs, manners, habits,
religion, and government. The structures
they built point to the conclusion that they
are parts of a grand system, erected by men
moving in one direction, acting Under COM
mon impulse, and influenced by similar ideas.
Perhaps, then they were built by people re-
firing from the country before the encroach-
ments of superior foe-who may have been
the later red Indians. On the other hand,
they may have been the conquering nation
and their works we're built while they were
advancing into the Ohio valley, but as their
works are largely of defensive character, it
is to be presumed that they were gradually
giving way before invaders who had made
serious inroads upon them and in their ter
titory. The fact, also that no known de-
scendants of the Mound Builders exist, points
to the conclusion that theywere exterminated
or assimilated into some other mightier ma
tion, or perhaps scattered to the ends of the
earth.
They possessed military skill and we're not
without some knowledge ofmathematics and
surveying, as shown by the exactness of their
works.. This is also shown in their symbol
cal figures, which are gemetrical and perfect
In design. The construction in military
works would indicate that they were, occa-
sionally at least, at war, either among them
selves or with some other nation or tribe.
The Mound Builders were doubtless. also
superstitious people. cherishing faith in some
religious system. The amount of labor be-
slowed upon their sacred works, affairs, and
enclosures, shows strong supernatural tenden-
cies. They doubtless offered up animals in
their sacrifces-and it may be human beings
also. Prisoners of war are thus disposed of
sometimes by people who have not attained
to as high state of civilization as that reach
ed by the Mound -Buildrs.
The late DR.. Foster held that they were
worshippers of the element, and of the sun,
moon, and stars also; and that they offered
up human sacrifices from the fact that
charred and calcinel bones have been found
on the remains of their altars and in mounds.
1t is asserted that they were sun-worshipers,
and If so they worshiped fire perhaps, as the
symbol of the sun.
THE ANTIQUITY OF THE ABoRIGINEs.
There are various items relating to the an
Gquity of man on this continent, and they
may throw some light upon his origin. Sir
Chas. Lyell notes: "a human Uranium of
the aboriginal type of the red race has been
found in the delta of the Mississippi; beneath
four buried forests, superimposed one upon
another, implying, as estimated by DR.. Dow
Ter, an antiquity of fifty thousand years."
Lyell himself estimated the age Of the delta
at one hundred thousand years.
DR.. @. @. Abbott, of Trenton, New Jersey,
lately announced the discovery in the SO call
ed "Trenton Gravels'--a deposit considered
to represent the last sub glacial overfow-of
a fragment of human skull. Confirmation
of this, as glacial relic is needed as no au-
thentic remains of Glacial man kave thus
far been found in the country.
We have already spoken of Ft. Ancient on
the Little Miami, and the locality there which
has long been known to the country folks as
the pottery Field" ld"-supposed to be the site
of an anciont workshop. All around this
locality are numerous mounds or tumuli but
opened by Mr.. Florian Gianque in 1876 and
some interesting things found. In 1873
DR.. Charles Metz and other gentlemen inter-
ested in archaeology commenced systematic
exploitation of the country thereabout. Dur
ing the four years that the excavations have
been carried on, between $50 and 700 skeletons
have been broughtto hght-many of them in
an advanced state of decay, crumbling to
pieces ON the slightest touch, while others are